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antepenult

[an-tee-pee-nuhlt, -pi-nuhlt]
noun
  1. the third syllable from the end in a word, as te in antepenult.
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Origin of antepenult

1575–85; < Latin (syllaba) antepaenultima the second (syllable) from the last, feminine of antepaenultimus standing before the penult. See ante-, penult
Related formspre·an·te·pe·nult, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for antepenult

Historical Examples

  • Words llanas may assonate with words accented on the antepenult (esdrjulas).

    Legends, Tales and Poems

    Gustavo Adolfo Becquer

  • Words ending in ous have the accents on the antepenult, as uxrious, volptuous.

  • This anie eare may if he accent the antepenult matrmonie, or the penult matrimnie, or the last as matrimone.

  • If the penult is short, the antepenult is accented provided it be long: Sansthā́naka.

    The Little Clay Cart

    (Attributed To) King Shudraka

  • For purposes of assonance little use is made of words accented on a syllable preceding the antepenult.

    Legends, Tales and Poems

    Gustavo Adolfo Becquer

British Dictionary definitions for antepenult

antepenult

noun
  1. the third last syllable in a word
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Word Origin

C16: shortened from Latin (syllaba) antepaenultima; see ante-, penult
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for antepenult

n.

1610s; see antepenultimate.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper